Summer House Café
Ambience: Located in Aurbindo Place Market, Summer House Café is a statement in its self. Serving cuisine from world over, this standalone café has a certain noir element to it. Conventional wooden décor sets the mood on an eccentric level. The restaurant has two seating areas—a rooftop, open air seating arrangement and a customary closed setup downstairs with a huge open space, accommodating a house full of people dancing to techno, house, lounge and psychedelic trance music.
Summer House Café
As far as I am concerned, I love open air setups; especially during winters. After reaching the venue on a packed Friday evening, I was given a choice to sit anywhere I wished to by the very polite manager. Like I mentioned, I chose the terrace. Soft tunes of trance floated in the air as I got comfortable on a low-base sofa. The crowd was bustling; people wore happy smiles on their faces, which only made me more intrigued to find out more about this place.
Summer House Café
We sat on a quaint corner overlooking a terrace bar that looked like a small, fun truck serving beverages of all kinds. As I browsed through the menu card, one of the stewards got us a standing angithi (brazier) and placed it lovingly next to our table; it felt enchantingly warm and sultry—perfect for Delhi winter evenings.
Summer House Café
Food: I started with some appetizers—non-veg mezze platter, buffalo chili fries (veg), and some smoked chicken wings. My evening started to get better! The food was scrumptious and the portions were even more generous. However, extra credit should be given to the chef for mouthwatering food presentation skills! Now, special mention must be made for the hummus—it was gorgeously grainy, yet had a smooth texture and the olives on it seemed deliciously dark and soft. I relished upon it.
Summer House Café
The starters were accompanied by a couple of Sangria servings. The wine was sweet and crimson and the floating fruits were cut in small, cubical shapes—all equal in sizes. Quite impressive, I must say. Moving on to the main course, I ordered myself a basil pesto chicken with parmesan sauce. The succulent chicken breasts were marinated in fresh pesto before being grilled to perfection. This was served with thick, creamy parmesan sauce that melted in my mouth like molten sunshine. And of course, grilled seasonal veggies and mashed potatoes sat on the plate like stiff-lipped custom. (P.S- Not a big fan of mashed potatoes; they rather make me feel dull). Overall, the chicken was heavenly; every bite was worth it.
Summer House Café
The meal concluded with a large slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It was soft; tasted like fresh homemade cake and the frosting made it all the more sinful. My evening indeed, ended with a happy winter cake. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone who is looking forward to an easy-going, fuss-free dining experience.
Recommendation: This place is soulful. The décor could be simplistic but the ambience is Boho. The food might sound extravagant, but its very essence will soothe your palate—a perfect home-style casual café for Delhi-ites. Also, this place houses many live performances and gigs on selected days. So have you planned your Friday already?
Find them at: 1st Floor, DDA Shopping Complex, Aurobindo Place, Hauz Khas, New Delhi
Make reservations at: 011 33106147
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